First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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Metispicker
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by Metispicker » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:45 pm

That's some incredible work. what did you use to punch the dots out of the pickguard material?

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:50 pm

Metispicker wrote:That's some incredible work. what did you use to punch the dots out of the pickguard material?
Thanks!

I used a leather punch. It's a little hard on the hands. As you punch the dots they travel up the punch and fall out the middle.

You can see it here:

Image

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:09 pm

My off camera flash batteries died so here are some shots with the in camera flash and a smaller fisheye lens. No the clamps aren't bending like that! It's the lens.

I used a 5/16" brad point and clamped the headstock down with a scrap board behind it to drill the tuners to the bushing size. I will ream them later:

Image

Cross your fingers for me :jacked: , I glued up the body:

Image

I dug out the pickups I'm going to use....um....someday they will be pickups :ph34r: .

Image

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by the older brother » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:42 pm

That is a lot of solid maple - heavy? I have a Jazz Bass with a solid maple body and it is a back breaker....

Looks nice though!
Someone knows where I can find the nearest woodchipper to throw my pieces of junk into?

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:28 am

I love your work so far.

I'd definitely go with sideways switches in the original position you chose.
The closer they are to the strumming area the better as it'd be quicker & easier to get to them while playing.
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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:55 am

the older brother wrote:That is a lot of solid maple - heavy? I have a Jazz Bass with a solid maple body and it is a back breaker....

Looks nice though!
Thanks, yeah I bought too much wood. I might have enough to build something else with the offcuts. I'm a big guy so heavy isn't a problem. I am pretty interested to see how heavy it is after all the electronics and hardware are on it.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:57 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:I love your work so far.

I'd definitely go with sideways switches in the original position you chose.
The closer they are to the strumming area the better as it'd be quicker & easier to get to them while playing.
Thank you. I think I decided I want to use sideways rocker switches in the pickguard. I haven't ordered them yet so I'm not sure how easily they will accidentally switch. They're inexpensive though. They mount on standoffs so just one end of the switch stands proud of the pickguard:

Image

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by the older brother » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:23 am

Those rocker switches looks like the ones in my Marauder (except mines white):

Image

:)
Someone knows where I can find the nearest woodchipper to throw my pieces of junk into?

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:37 am

Holy switches!

Yup that's the look I like!

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:39 am

Check out these crazy switchcraft dpdt network switches I found in my search:

Image

They would need a thicker body but I bet that would look awesome in another guitar!

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:51 pm

I didn't work on the guitar today. I figured I'd leave the clamps for 24 hours.

I had to build a headphone amp for a birthday present:

Image

I just unclamped the body. The pickup rings came in the mail today so I couldn't resist:

Image

I think it's starting to look pretty sweet.

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by duncanjames » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:23 pm

Wow. Some guys have all the luck. When it comes to looking for cool switches. Where did you find those???

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by awfurby » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:43 pm

This is fantastic. It's really starting to look good.

Don't stuff it up!!!! ;D

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:34 am

awfurby wrote:This is fantastic. It's really starting to look good.

Don't stuff it up!!!! ;D
Haha, that made me laugh. I'll try not to!

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Re: First Scratch Build: Maple Walnut neck through-RD

Post by ForcedFire » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:35 am

duncanjames wrote:Wow. Some guys have all the luck. When it comes to looking for cool switches. Where did you find those???
You just need to look beyond guitar parts sellers. Try Newark, Mouser, Digikey, etc... lots of cool switches.

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